Basic Information Agents need to know about Virginia s 4-H Horse Program

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1 Publication 4H-307NP * Basic Information Agents need to know about Virginia s 4-H Horse Program State Level Events EquiSmartz: contest.html Link to all the EquiSmartz contests for registration, schedules and rules. Horse Judging- The objective of Horse Judging is to help 4-H members grow in their analytical decision making and communication skills. Judging is making a decision and telling why it was made. Contestants use their knowledge of current standards and rules from United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), or other breed association rulebooks to judge and rank classes consisting of 4 in-hand or halter horses as well as four horses in various performance classes. Youth are asked to defend their placings by giving sets of oral reasons to official judges. Hippology - an equine knowledge contest that consists of four phases: Horse Judging, Written Examination and slide ID, Station ID s, and Team Problem Solving. Emphasis should be on reading, studying, learning and fun. Horse Bowl- similar to Jeopardy. This quick-paced contest is played with buzzers and the first contestant to buzz in and answer the question correctly wins points for their team. Teams of four to five players compete against each other. The fifth player is designated as the alternate. Three types of questions are used: one-on-one questions, open questions and toss-up questions with bonus attached. Public Speaking- The objective of the public speaking program is to teach 4-H members how to stand on their own two feet and relay their ideas about a specific equine-related topic to someone else. 4-H ers learn to research, evaluate, and organize facts about a topic and deliver the speech. Individual Presentation- The objective of the presentation program is to have 4-H members develop and improve skills, increase their knowledge, and learn to express themselves. Similar to Public Speaking but visual aids can be used. Team Presentation- Similar to Individual Presentation but two people are presenting together with visual aids. - Public Speaking, Individual presentation, and team presentation- there is one person/team per club within a county per division. If a county host a county contest then those top individuals for each division may go even if they are from the same county. These rules will be changed for 2015 in order to engage more youth in the competitions. - Please see each event on the site for qualifying rules for the other individual contests in EquiSmartz. State Horse Show- Held in Lexington, VA at the Virginia Horse Center the 2nd or 3rd weekend of September every year (Thursday thru Sunday). Show/state_4h_horse_show.html Produced by Communications and Marketing, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2014 * 18 USC 707 Virginia Cooperative Extension programs and employment are open to all, regardless of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia State University, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. Edwin J. Jones, Director, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg; Jewel E. Hairston, Administrator, 1890 Extension Program, Virginia State, Petersburg.

2 Qualifying Criteria for the State Horse Show: All 4-Her s must: 1. Be enrolled in a club and horse project by January 1 to be eligible for the State 4-H Horse Show in September. 2. Submit and up-to-date Virginia Horse Project Junior ( ) or Senior ( ) Record Book as appropriate for their age. 3. Participate in one county, area or state 4-H event other than the district show or qualifying clinic 4. Compete at a district qualifying show and complete at least one class, or participate in a qualifying clinic. 5. Declare their project horse(s) on-line and paperwork in the agents office by May 1st of the project year and 6. Pass levels 1 and 2 of the horsemanship skills if it is their first time at the State Show or if they are taking a horse that is new to them. Only 4-H ers that are 10 and older may attend the State Show. Each Club, County &/or District may have additional requirements. Who does online eligibility/declaration form for horses Either the individual themselves or the club leader will be the one to complete the online eligibility form but this should be coordinated with the leader. In addition, submit a hard copy of your declaration form(s) to your county extension office and have your county agent sign them prior to May 1 st of each year. Horsemanship Skills Virginia 4-H s Horsemanship Skills Program emphasizes safety in all equine activities, and aims to develop horsemanship skills and recognize individual achievement in a non-competitive, progressive program. As this program is further developed, additional levels and skill sets will be added. 4-Hers in Virginia who have not previously shown at the state level (plus any new horse/rider combination) will be required to complete Horsemanship Skills Levels 1 & 2 in order to be eligible for the 4-H Championship Horse & Pony Show. This links to all of the information regarding horsemanship skills. Measurement Each equine is to have a Green measurement card. Agents are to print these cards in their offices on green cardstock.. Each measurement card must have the signature of a USEF Steward or Certified 4-H Horse Measurer. (Site of 4-H Measurers: horse_show.html) Horses that are age 5 and under are required to obtain a new measurement card each year. Once they receive the measurement card in their fifth year, the card becomes permanent for that horse. County Club Issues The state office of the horse program supports the rules specific to county or district level projects. 2

3 A youth can only be a member in one county unit, but can participate in a project (in a different club/county) that is not offered in their club or county. Lone Star member eligibility is reserved for those youth who are not a member of a Horse Club due to some physical or personal limitations. Contact Celeste Crisman with reference to the horse program and lone star. Trophies at State Horse Show Perpetual trophies must be returned by the beginning of the state horse show. Trophy winners are responsible for having a plate engraved and placed on trophy. When a trophy is full, it is then retired to the 4-H State display case at the Virginia Horse Center. A new trophy will then be given by the previous donor or a new source. All trophy winners will receive a letter requesting the trophy be returned at the beginning of the State Show so any repairs and cleaning can occur prior to presenting the trophy to the next winner. Contact People Celeste Crisman- Equine Extension Specialist, , ccrisman@vt.edu District Horse Council Representatives Southwest - Cornelia Estep (Agent) from Lebanon, VA cestep@vt.edu - Leslie Prillaman (Agent) from Roanoke, VA lesliep@vt.edu Southeast Region Bea Brown (Leader) from Dendron, VA terry4bea@aol.com Southeast Region Sandra Dowdy (Leader) from Richmond, VA pinkydbr@comcast.net - Rita Schalk (Agent) from Hanover, VA rjschalk@vt.edu Northern Carrie Swanson (Agent) from Charlottesville, VA cswanson@vt.edu - Linda Brown (President) huntlinfarm@hotmail.com Central Bonnie Tillotson (Agent) from Appomattox, VA btillots@vt.edu - Jeanne Morcom (Co-President) from Amherst, VA morcomjd@aol.com - Jo Ann Miller (Co-President) form Forest, VA executivedirector@brookhillfarm.org 3

4 How to get on the list serve All leaders and youth should be encouraged to visit the URL above to sign up for the 4-H Horse Listserve, so they can receive pertinent information on events and deadlines. This helps to ease the burden of the agents to make sure all info is in the hands of the leaders especially in case of sickness or vacation! Empower your leaders to help you with responsibility! Facebook page Should Like and pay attention to the information going up on the page. - Anyone can post on the Facebook page and are encouraged to post pictures from 4-H events. County Level payments to State 4-H Horse Program and Block & Bridle contests. State Horse Show, EquiSmartz - Personal checks can be submitted by a parent or leader with each entry for any event. - For Clubs that have their own account (501c3 status) may write out a check to VTF-Horse with EquiSmartz or State Show on the memo line as appropriate. - For clubs that no longer have checking accounts entry fees will be paid through the extension office. o For counties paying out of foundation accounts, they can directly transfer funds from their foundation accounts to VTF-Horse Show (for State Show) and VTF-Horse (for EquiSmartz). Please provide a copy of transfer form to the state office when sending entry forms so we will know how to expect payment. o For counties paying out of agency accounts (which are state accounts), payments will need to be processed through a HokieMart purchase order. To do this the county should use the EquiSmartz or State Show entry form as a receipt, and HokieMart will generate a check to VTF-Horse Show (for State Show) and VTF-Horse (for EquiSmartz) for payment. Please provide PO number to state office when sending entry forms so we will know how to expect payment. Block and Bridle (B&B) - Entries can be paid through the county office agency account using HokieMart paid to Block & Bridle Club as a vendor, since B&B only has a foundation account. Or a transfer from the county foundation account to the B&B Foundation account # Funds cannot be transferred from a State account to a Foundation account! Donations This link provides detailed information on the donation and leasing of animals in the 4-H program. The Virginia 4-H program prohibits the acceptance of donated animals of any kind in the name of 4-H. This policy includes both unit and state 4-H programs. However, the proceeds of the sale of animals will be accepted. Survival Guide for Horse Leaders This is the link to the survival guide. Every office should have a copy with the person responsible for the 4-H program. 4

5 Risk Management policies and liabilities Within this link are the explanations of risk management policies for the 4-H Horse program and guidelines for other events and has the links to all the forms as well. Emergency Procedures The Emergency Procedures card, VCE pub # , was developed as a resource for staff and volunteers. It should be used to identify important emergency contacts and telephone numbers. Horse leaders should obtain these from their county agent and have them in their possession at all 4-H events. Reasoning and use of waivers and forms Required for participants in Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University sponsored horse shows. When to complete the accident form, and when do you call 911 Required for serious illnesses, significant behavioral problems, or accidents involving injuries like fractured bones, chipped or broken teeth, extensive lacerations involving sutures, falls involving unconsciousness, dislocations, incidents involving water which require resuscitation, or any injury requiring hospital stay. 5